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Detroit Zoo photo of mother and child.
The Detroit Zoo has a new baby giraffe.
The giraffe, 150 pounds and more than 5-feet tall, was born at 6:45 p.m. on Tuesday. The mother, named "Kivuli" is five years old. The father, "Jabari," is six-years-old. The baby has yet to be named.
The gestation period was 15-months, according to a press release from the zoo. The gender of the giraffe will be determined at the first veterinary exam.
The press release states:
Giraffes give birth while standing and the newborn falls more than 5 feet, enough to break the umbilical cord. The calf can stand and run with its mother within hours.
The zoo said the baby took its first steps an hour after its birth and nursed throughout the night, according to animal care staff.
“The calf appears strong and healthy, all legs and very curious,” said Scott Carter, Detroit Zoological Society chief life sciences officer in a statement. “Kivuli is showing great maternal care; she’s very attentive and affectionate.”
